Visual Faith

We were entertained by the wonderful talent of the Visual Faith Band. Their beautiful music was enjoyed by all.

 

Their ministry focuses on assisting families in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). They provide assistance to the families with sick babies. Visual Faith Ministry provides meals, supplies, financial assistance, and counseling services. Jimmy and Jill spend several hours each week in the NICU providing support to these families during this difficult time.  Click on the link to learn more. http://visualfaithministry.com/

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FEELING THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IN GETHSEMANE

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I recently returned from a 12 day trip to the Holy Land.   For me it was an experience that made the Bible come to life.  For me it was a journey where I surely felt the presence of Jesus as I followed in his footsteps.

The Garden of Gethsemane was one place where I felt the presence of Jesus.  It’s a beautiful garden with fruit trees, shrubs, flowers and olive trees.  Botanists claim that some of the olive trees at this garden are actually 3,000 years old.  I took a picture of one of the olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane, not because it is old, but because the bark drew my attention.  One writer’s words express exactly how I feel when I look at this picture.

*Whether or not the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane can be traced to the first century, their gnarled and weathered trunks remind us of the agony that Jesus experienced when he prayed on this site over two thousand years ago.  To visit Gethsemane is to reflect on the suffering that Jesus endured on our behalf.*

                                                Nancy Newlon

From the Secretary

The Treasurer will be sending a donation to the Movie Ministry at
Oakridge Valley United Methodist Church in memory of Chuck Behr, a late
member of our own congregation.
May Baskets will be a project coming up, so look for news about
opportunities to help with this outreach.  Phyllis Layman will be
lending a deft hand at their arrangement, as she has beautifully done so
in the past.  Possibly after the service on the 26th of April there will
be a small workshop for assembling about 50 of them.
On May 10th, ladies be prepared to be regaled by a Mother*s Day
Breakfast, prepared by the men of the congregation before the service,
as another time for fellowship and merrymaking.
Do you have a Letter of Transfer you would like to give to Pastor
Blaine?  A special day of recognition may be in the offing.
From Marcia Little, Board Secretary

Pastor’s Thoughts

Have A Blessed Easter

Palm Sunday

We were all in awe today as we walked into the church.

The Zach family had the church looking beautiful for

Palm Sunday.    (Click on pictures to enlarge)

Pastor Blaine had Grace, Karlee and Macey up front during the children’s

sermon explaining to them about the palm branches.

 

Mrs. Zach's Sunday School Class

 

Ethan Maybee, Grace Zach, Macey Graham and Karlee Graham.

Learning about Easter and the symbolism of the butterfly.

In the church the butterfly has long been a symbol of the resurrection

of Christ as well as the resurrection of believers. The reason why is

the caterpillar disappears into a cocoon which is like the tomb that

Christ lay in after the crucifixion appearing dead.  Later it emerges

from “death” having transformed into something more beautiful that it was.

The butterfly symbol is seen especially around Easter the Christian

holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  But the

butterfly is also a symbol of every Christian*s hope of resurrection

from the dead.

Congratulations Jan Zach

 

Sunday we helped Jan celebrate his retirement from Elster American Meter

in Nebraska City where he had been employed for 30 years.

Here is Jan with his family, son Aaron, daughter Sarah, granddaughter Grace, and his wife Mary.

You can click on the pictures to enlarge.

Jan is looking forward to his retirement as he will now have time to add to his scale

model trains and track and can continue to build his model of hometown Percival as

he watches the trains go by.  It is a wonderful replica of his hometown with lots of

added familiar homes and memories.

Congratulations on your retirement Jan. We wish you tons of happiness in the years ahead!